Oil and gas separator



United States Parent O OIL AND GAS SEPARATOR Wilfred C. Gibson, Fullerton, Calif., assignor to Shatfer Tool Works, a corporafion of California Application April 22, 1957, Serial No. 654,113

7 Claims. (Cl. 103-203) This invention relates generally to oil Well equipment and relates more particularly to Separator means for separ rating the gas and oil in a well.

While the invention has particular utility in connection with the separating of gas and oil in an oil well, and is shown and described in such connection, it is to be understood that its utility is not confined thereto.

When both gas and oil must be handled by the pump of an oil well, the output is necessarily limited by the capacity of the pump. The valves of the pump constitute restrictions which limit the Volume of fluid that may pass therethrough.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a Separator that is dsposed within the well and below the pump which will separate the gas and oil so that the pump need only pump oil, the gas being forced out of the well by reason of the pressure of said gas within the well.

Another problem involved in gas and oil separators that may be located within the well is that heretofore separators of this character have had external pipes and projections which make it extremely difficult to remove the separator should certain parts of the well equipment become stuck for various well-known reasons and it is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus of the present character which may be readily removed under such conditions.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a separator of this character that has an entirely cylindrical exterior so that it may be removed with conventional removing tools.

A still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character that is relatively simple in construction and effective in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character that is easy to install.

Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufliciently referred to in connection with the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings which show one arrangement. After considering this example, skilled persons will understand that variations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed, and any structures, arrangements or modes of operation that are properly within the scope of the appended clairns are contemplated.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through apparatus embodying the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the oil casing is indicated at and is of the usual well-known character. The oil and gas separating apparatus, indicated generally at 12, is located within the casing 10, said apparatus being supported within the casing by a pipe or ice tubing 13, the upper end of which is connected in the usual naner to the lower end of the pump.

The various parts of the apparatus 12 have a cylindrical exterior and all of said parts have an external diameter substantially smaller than the internal diameter of the casing 10.

The lower end of the pipe 13 is externally threaded and is received in an nternally threaded end portion 14 of a collar 15. At the inner end of the portion 14, there is an internal annular recess 16 from which there is an inwardly extending nternally threaded portion 17 for reception of a packing gland 18 having a axial passage 19 y therethrough in which is received the upper end portion of a pipe 20 having an external diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the pipe 13. Inwardly of the threaded portion 17 of the collar, there is an annular recess 21 in which is dsposed packing 22 of any suitable well-known character and between the packing 22 and the packing gland is a Washer 23. A seal 24 is dsposed in an annular groove provided in the collar adjacent the inner end of the portion 17 to thereby provide a seal between said collar and the inner end of the packing gland.

The opposite or lower end of the collar 15 is provided with an nternally threaded, inwardly extending axial recess 25, the inner end of which is separated from the recess 21 by a partiton 26 which has an axial opening therethrough for reception of the pipe 20.

Recess 25 threadably receives the upper externally threaded end portion 30 of a Connector tube 31 having an intermediate part 32 of reduced external diameter and having a plurality of perforations 33 therein, said perforations being spaced apart annularly and longitudinally.

The lower end of connector tube 31 has an externally threaded portion 35 threadably received in an nternally threaded portion 36 of a recess which extends downwardly or inwardly from the upper end of a lower collar 38. The inner end of the last mentioned recess is unthreaded and provides a chamber 39 in the bottom of which is a tapped recess 40 in which the lower threaded end portion of the pipe 20 is threadably received. The recess 40 is formed in a central portion 41 of the collar 38 and is offset to one side or eccentrically arranged with respect to the axis of the collar 38. A passage 42 connects the inner or lower end of the recess 40 with the exterior of the collar 38 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. At the lower end of the lower collar 38 there is an upwardly or inwardly extending recess 44, the outer end portion of which is nternally threaded for reception of the upper externally threaded end portion of tubing 45 which depends from said lower collar 38. At the upper end of recess 44 there is a chamber 46 which is connected with the chamber 39 by means of a plurality of annularly spaced longitudinally extending passages 48 in the central portion of the lower collar 38 and toward the side of said ccllar opposite the side toward which said recess 40 is o set.

Adjacent the lower end of the lower collar 38 there is a packer 50 of any suitable well-known character which is dsposed about the pipe 45 and forms a seal between said pipe and the interior wall of the casing 10. Packer 50 forms the bottom of an annular chamber 51 defined by the casing 10 and the collars 15 and 38 and connecter tube 31.

Gas and oil pass upwardly through the pipe 45 into the chamber 46 and thence to the chamber 39 by way of the passages 48 in the central portion of collar 38. From the chamber 39 said gas. and oil pass upwardly in the the pressure in the casing` 10, passes upwardly in the space between said casing and the pipe 13 and is taken from said casing lt) at the upper end thereof by well-known means. The oil which flows through the openings or perforations 33 flows downwardly in the chamber 51 to fill same above the outer end or opening 53 of the pas sage 42. This oil which has collected in the bottom of the chamber 51 is drawn upwardly through the passage 42 and pipe and thence into the pipe 13 which is connected to the punp. Thus, when the pump is operating, the oil in said chamber 51 is pumped from the Well and it will be apparent that with this arrangement, the pump has only oil to handle so that the efiective capacity of the pump is greatly increased as the gas does not have to pass therethrough.

It is thought that the nvention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it is thought that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, Construction and arrangement or" the parts of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the ernbodiment herein before described being merely one arrangement.

I claim:

1. The combination in an oil well of a casing, a pump having an inlet and an outlet and a gas and oil Separator disposed within the casing, said Separator comprising a cylindrical upper collar connected with the inlet of said pump, said collar having a passage therethrough; a pipe removably disposed within said passage, said passage being enlarged at the outer ends; a packing disposed in one of the enlarged portions of said passage to form a seal between the collar and said pipe; a packing gland removably received in said enlarged portion of the passage in operable relationship with the packing for securing same; a Connector tube about said pipe and having the upper end removably Secured to the lower end of said collar, said connecter tube having a larger inside diameter than the outside diameter of said pipe and having a plurality of perforations theren; a cylindrical lower collar having the upper end thereof removably secured to the lower end of the connector tube; means for removably securing the lower end ot' said pipe to said lower collar in otfset relation to the axis of said collar, there being a passageway connecting the interior of said pipe with the eXterior of said lower collar; tubing removably Secured to the lower end of said lower collar and depending in said casing, said lower collar having a chamber adjacent the upper end thereof communicating with the space between said pipe and Connector tube and there being a plurality of passages providing fluid communication between said tubing and said chamber, said passages being disposed at the side of said collar opposite the side toward vshich the lower end of said pipe is offset; and packer means between said tubing and casing, said packer` means being located adjacent the lower end or" said lower collar and forming a bottom wall for an annular chamber between the interior wall of the casing and the exterior of the upper and lower collars and the Connector tube.

2. The combination in an oil well of a casing, a pump having an inlet and an outlet, and a gas and oil Separator disposed within the casing, said Separator comprising a cylindrical upper collar connected with the inlet of said pump, said collar having a passage therethrough; a pipe disposed within said passage, said passage being enlarged at the outer ends; a packing disposed in one of the enlarged portions of said passage to form a seal between the collar and said pipe; a packing gland in said one enlarged portion of the passage in operable relationship with the packing; a Connector tube about said pipe and having the upper end Secured to the lower end of said collar, said Connector tube having a larger inside diameter than the outside diameter of said pipe and having a plurality of perforations therein; a cylindrical lower collar having the upper end thereof Secured to the lower end of the Connector tube; means for securing the lower end of said pipe to said lower collar, there being a passageway connecting the interior of said pipe with the exterior of said lower collar; tubing Secured to the lower end of said lower collar and depending in said casing, said lower collar having a chamber adjacent the upper end thereof communicatng With the space between said pipe and connector tube and there being a plurality of passages providing fluid communication between said tubing and said chamber; and packer means between said tubing and casing, said packer means being located adjacent the lower end of said lower collar and forming a bottom wall for an annular chamber extending upwardly within said casing.

3. Liquid and gas separating apparatus for installation in the casing of an oil well or the like having a pump with an inlet and an outlet, comprising: a cylindrical upper collar having a connection with the inlet of said pump; a pipe extending into said collar and having a discharge end adapted to deliver fluid to said connection with said pump; packing means scaling said pipe in said collar; a Connector tube on said pipe, said tube having the upper end Secured to said collar, said Connector tube having a larger inside diameter than the outside diameter of said pipe and having a plurality of liquid and gas discharge openings therein; a cylindrical lower collar Secured to the lower end of the Connector tube; the lower end of said pipe being Secured to said lower collar, there being a passageway in said lower collar connecting the interior of said pipe with the exterior of said lower collar; tubing of smaller outside diameter than the inside diameter of said casing, said tubing being Secured to said lower collar and depending therefrorn in said casing, said lower collar having a chamher communicating with the space between said pipe and connecter tube and there being a plurality of passages in said lower collar providing fluid communication between said tubing and said chamber; and packer means defining a bottom wall for an upwardly extending chanber within the casing.

4. Oil and gas separating apparatus, comprising: a first cylindrical collar having internally threaded recesses in the end portions thereof separated by a wall having an opening therethrough, there being a packing recess in said collar and an internally threaded portion adjacent said recess for reception of a packing gland; packing in said packing recess; a packing gland threadably disposed in the packing gland recess; a connecter tube having one end externally threaded and threaded into one of said end recesses of said collar, said connecting tube having a plurality of liquid and gas discharge openings therein; a second cylindrical collar having internally threaded recesses in end portions thereof, the opposite externally threaded end portion of said Connector tube being threadably disposed in one of said recesses of the second collar, said second collar having a smaller, internally threaded recess ottset toward one side thereof and opening toward the first collar; a pipe having one end externally threaded and received in the last mentioned recess, said pipe being of smaller outside diameter than the inside diameter of the Connector tube and extending through said tube, through said opening in the first collar, through said packing and packing gland and having the adjacent end open beyond the packing gland, said second collar having a fluid connection between the exterior thereof and the inner end of said smaller recess in which the lower end of the pipe is threadably received, and also having a plurality of passages extending between the outer threaded recess of said second collar and the recess at the opposite end of said second collar; and means for defining a partitioned wall between the separator apparatus and well casing.

5. In liquid and gas separating apparatus, comprisng: a first cylindrical collar having internally threaded recesses in the end portions thereof separated by a wall having an opening therethrough, there being a packing recess in said collar and an internally threaded portion adjacent said recess for reception of a packing gland;

packng in said packing recess, a packing gland threadably disposed in the packing gland recess; a connector tube having one end externally threaded and threaded into one of said end recesses of said collar, said connecting tube having a plurality of lquid and gas dscha'ge openings therein; a second cylindrical collar having internally threaded recesses in end portions thereof, the opposite externally threaded end portion of said connector tube being threadably disposed in one of said recesses of the second collar said second collar having a smaller, internally threaded recess and opening toward the first collar; and a pipe having one end externally threaded and received in the last mentioned recess, said pipe being of smaller outside diameter than the inside diameter of the Connector tube and extending through said tube, the opening in the first mentioned collar, said packing and packing gland, and open at the adjacent end, said second collar having a fluid connection between the exterior thereof and the inner end of said smaller recess, and also having a plurality of passages extending between the outer threaded recess of said second collar and the recess at the opposite end of said second collar.

6. In lquid and gas separating apparatus: a first collar having internally threaded recesses in the end portions thereof separated by a wall having an opening therethrough; a Connector tube having one end threaded into one of the end recesses of said collar, said connecting tube having a plurality of discharge openings theren; a second collar having internally threaded recesses in end portions thereof, the opposite externally threaded end portion of said connector tube being threadably disposed in one of said recesses of the second collar, said second collar having a smaller, internally threaded recess opening toward the first collar; a pipe having one end externally threaded and received in the last mentioned recess, said pipe being of smaller outside diameter than the inside diameter of the Connector tube and extending through said tube and first collar; and scaling means for scaling said pipe in said first collar, said second collar having a fluid connection between the exterior thereof and the inner end of said smaller recess and also having passage means extending between the outer threaded recess of said second collar and the recess at the opposite end of said second collar.

7. In lquid and gas separatng apparatus: a first tubular member having internal recesses in the end portions thereof separated by a wall having an opening therethrough; a Connector tube having one end Secured in one of the end recesses of said tubular member, said connecting tube having a plurality of discharge openings therein; a second tubular member having internal recesses in end portions thereof, the opposite end portion of said Connector tube being disposed in one of said recesses of said second tubular member, said second tubular member having a smaller internal recess opening toward the first tubular member; a pipe having one end received in the last mentioned recess and Secured therein, said pipe being of smaller outside diameter than the inside diameter of the connector tube and extending through said tube and first tubular member; and scaling means for scaling said pipe in said first tubular member, said second tubular member having a fluid connection between the exterior thereof and the inner end of the smaller recess, and also having passage means extending between the outer recess of the second tubular member and the recess at the opposite end of said second tubular member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 249,228 Dower Nov. 8, 1881 1,554,835 Barrett Sept. 22, 1925 1,739,770 Reese Dec. 17, 1929 2,026,132 Klein Dec. 31, 1935 2,179,481 Coberly Nov. 14, 1939 2,229,541 Zublin Jan. 21, 1941 2,317,219 Porter et al. Apr. 20, 1943 2,349,164 Gilbert May 16, 1944 2,674,192 Coberly Apr. 6, 1954 2,748,719 Wells June 5, 1956 

